Tone pair 2-2

This page will cover some examples of the 2-2 tone pair, which Sinosplice rates as a "3" on a difficulty rating of 1-7 (easiest to hardest).

Practice this tone pair using the words below. Once you can say them reliable in isolation (as just a tone pair), try putting them in longer sentences while keeping the tones accurate.

2-2 Tone Pair Diagram

It helps many learners to see the two tones side by side.

Tone Pair 2-2 cropped.png

2-2 Tone Pair Words (A2)

If you're just getting started with tone pairs, these simple two-syllable words and phrases are a good place to start. If these are too easy, you may want to move onto the longer (B1) phrases below.

Audio Chinese Pinyin English
平时 píngshí usually
学习 xuéxí to learn
其实 qíshí actually, in fact
常常 chángcháng often
没来 méi lái didn't come

Source: AllSet Learning's "Tone Pair" Pronunciation Pack (used with permission)

2-2 Tone Pair Phrases (B1)

Audio Chinese Pinyin English
常常来 chángcháng lái to come often
别来玩 bié lái wán don't come play
常常学习 chángcháng xuéxí to study often
常常没钱 chángcháng méi qián to often have no money
从没学过 cóngméi xué guo to have never studied (before)

Source: AllSet Learning's "Tone Pair" Pronunciation Pack (used with permission)

2-2 Tone Pair Combos

Audio Chinese Pinyin English
(coming) 蛮忙 mán máng quite busy
(coming) 蛮长 mán zhǎng quite long
(coming) 蛮强 mán qiáng quite strong

Source: Sinosplice's Mandarin Chinese Tone Pair Drills (used with permission)

Sources and further reading

Videos

Websites